Guide cap



G. HUDSON Jan. 7, 1958 GUIDE CAP Filed Nov. 14, 1955 5 I R WM 7 my 4 7 W My 5 w 6 United States Patent 6 Gilbert Hudson, Glendale, Calif; assignor to Adapto, Inc., LasVegas, New, a corporation of Nevada Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,582 2 Claims. (c1. i zs -m This invention relates to a dispensing'stopper for vials and thelike and, more particularly, to an improvement for such dispensing stoppers to assist in the withdrawal of solution from the vials with which such stoppers are used.

In a patent to Perelson, No. 2,667,986, there is described a dispensing stopper for use in combination with a vial containing a solution usually used for hypodermic injections. This stopper contains a hollow needle which is supported therein and communicates with the interior of the vial. The needle is covered over by a diaphragm. The diaphragm is made of rubber and may be impaled on the needle by pressing a syringe-neck against the diaphragm. The diaphragm is pushed down below the point of the needle, whereby the syringemay be filled from the solution in the bottle through the' needle. Care must be taken in using this arrangement, .since if the syringe is not properly aligned with the needle in the stopper, both the end of the syringe as well asthe needle may be damaged when the syringe is pressed down over the diaphragm. Also, after loading, the syringe maybe withdrawn from the dispensing stopper angularly, thus bending the needletip and causing ditficulty upon subsequent attempted utilization of the arrangement.

In loading a syringe, the syringe must be held in position with the bottle against the push of the diaphragm. This requires holding syringe and bottle together with one hand while the other is used to fill the syringe. This is not easy.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a syringe guide and holding cap which will fit upon the dispensing stopper device described in the patent which guides a syringe to the filling needle and, also, holds it in place.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel syringe guide and holding cap which may be used on any number of bottles for the purpose of guiding and protecting a syringe in the manner previously described.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of an inexpensive syringe guide and holding cap which prevents damage to a syringe when it is employed in the manner described above.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a syringe guide and holding cap which enables the easy filling of a syringe.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a guide cap having a first part which is seated over the mouth of a vial which contains the type of dispensing stopper described above. The second part of the cap consists of the syringe guiding and holding structure. The first part consists of slotted walls defining an opening large enough to fit over the ferrule of a vial and terminating in a lip which fits under the ferrule, thus grasping the vial. The second part consists of slotted walls defining an opening just large enough to serve as a guide and to align the syringe over the dispensing needle. In addi- Patented Jan. 7, 1958 ice 2 i tion, an inward radial flange is provided at the top of these slotted walls which fits into a groove between the metal base and glass graduate portion of the syringe, thus looking it in place.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

' Figure 1 shows a view of a vial of the type previously described and an embodiment of the invention positioned thereover;

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the embodiment of the invention in combination with a vial and dispensing stopper of the type described, also showing the base of a syringe in position over the diaphragm; and

Figure 3 is a cross-section of. an embodiment of the invention in combination with a vial and dispensing stopper of the type described andalso shows how the syringe is guided properly to the dispensing needle by the embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there may be seen a vial 10 of the type usually employed to hold a solution which is to be used for injections. The mouthof the vial may be closed by a self-sealing dispensing device 12 of the type described in Patent No. 2,667,986 referred to previously, which is held in the vial by.a metal ferrule 14. This device has only a shallow boss 15 for indicating where a syringe is to be applied for filling. This does not prevent accidental angular application or angular withdrawal of the syringe, thus causing damage to both syringe and stopper with a possibility of such deformity to the needle as-to render it useless. Theembodiment'of the invention comprising an aligning cap is positioned over the vial and is composed of two parts. A first part 16 is the member for grasping the neck of the bottle and fits over the metal ferrule 14. The second part is a syringe guiding and holding portion 18 which is integrally united with the neck-grasping member 16 but for convenience of manufacture may be made separately and then fitted together. Both portions of the guide and holding cap have circular slotted walls which define the openings for the syringe base and for the vial top and yet enable the with drawal of both when required. The slotted walls of both parts extend from a common base member 17 which has an opening therein of the same diameter as said syringeguiding part. An inwardly extending flange 19 on the outer end of the portion 18 fits into the groove which is found between the metal base and glass graduate portion of syringes.

Regarding now the cross-section of the invention shown in Figure 2, this invention is shown in position on the vial. The circular walls of the neck-grasping portion 16 are in intimate contact with the ferrule 14. They have a slight lip 20 at their ends whereby the guide cap grasps the neck of the vial and is not withdrawn when the syringe is withdrawn. The circular walls are slotted for the purpose of enabling the guide cap to be forced over the top of the bottle, despite the lip, as well as for the purpose of enabling its being withdrawn therefrom without cracking or breaking. The syringe guide and holding portion 18 also consists of slotted circular walls defining an opening large enough to accurately guide a syringe and to enable its ready removal. This opening, when the cap is in position, is over the boss 15. At the outer end of these walls is an inwardly extending flange 19 which fits into the groove found in all metal base syringes where they are joined to the glass graduate portion of the syringe. The slotted walls enable the syringe base to be inserted or removed from the guide portion without cracking the cap. 7

The dispensing stopper, in conjunction with which this invention may be used, includes a base 22. anda hollow member 20isf deformed and exerts an upper pressure,

so that upon withdrawal of a syringe the diaphragm will be forced back over the needleand thus it self-seals the opening made. therein by the. needle. and thusmaintainsthe needle andthe solution in the vial sterileh Figure 3 also shows the invention being employed to guide a syringe 32. As may be seen there, the syringe is inserted into the guiding;portion.of'the invention 18,

which insures that'it is brought properly and directly in alignment with the needle 24. Furthermore, the flange 19 enters the groovein the's yringe base and, together with the walls of the'guiding'portion of thecap, holds the syringe firmly in place during. the filling operation against the outward push of the diaphragm; Thus, the assembly may be heldin one hand for filling with a minimum of difiiculty'. Uponfilling'the syringe with a desired quantity of fluid, ifdes'ir'ed, the vial is re-inverted and the syringe may then be withdrawn without either deforming the end of the needle or wideningor-adversely alfecting the base of the syringe. the guiding and holding portion of the cap permit. the syringe withdrawal. The'syringe may then be fitted with the needle which isto. be use'd'for; the actual/injection.

A resilient tubular; member 28'is.

The diaphragm 39 is made The slotted walls in It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention is not ne'cessarily'co'nfineif to beiii'g'used with only a single bottle, but may be used wherever required. Furthermore, the holding and guiding cap may be used with any other suitable type of dispensing stopper or without one, if desired.

Accordingly, there has beerrshown and described a novel, useful, inexpensive and simple device for guiding, holding, and protecting-syringes for filling from vials having a dispensing stopper.

I claim:

1. An aligning and holding cap for guiding a syringe to the covered needlein a'self-sealing dispensing-stopper of a vial, said cap comprising-a first portion having circular slotted walls adapted to fit over the top of said vial, a lip at one end of said circular walls, a second portion connected to said first portion including circular slotted walls having-an inwardly extending flange and-defining an opening adaptedrtofguide. and maintainiin position a syringe in operative relationshipwith said covered needle. M

2. An aligning and holding cap for utilization with-a vial 'having a self-sealing: dispensing; stopper and a.covered needle forfilling. syringes comprising'a base member, slotted-circular WallseX-tendingfrom one side of said References-Cited'inthe file of'this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,728,9' Hein Sept. 24. 1929 Chrigstrom Sept. 2; 19521 

